HUMBLE, Texas - On Monday the Lipscomb men’s golf team opened up the 2014 spring season by playing two rounds, 36 holes, in the Rice Intercollegiate.

As a team the Bisons posted a total score of 602, 26-over par. The Purple and Gold finished the opening day in ninth of a 15-team field.

After the first 18 holes Lipscomb was in third place after shooting a six-over par, 294. The second round is where the Bisons had their struggles, combining for a 20-over par, 308.

“We came out and played a good first round,” Lipscomb Director of Golf and coach Will Brewer said. “Maybe we aren’t conditioned enough mentally and physically right now because it’s early. They hit a lot of good shots, but had a couple of hiccups this afternoon. Overall I am fairly pleased.”

Junior transfer Caston Roberts led the way for the Bisons, firing an opening round two-under par, 70. Roberts followed with a 76 in the afternoon round and finished the day tied for 11th overall with a two round total of 146.

“It was a really good first round for Caston,” Brewer said. “He was hitting it very well, escpecially with the wind blowing like it was. He had a few swings to cost him in the second round. He worked hard this winter getting better with each round.”

Dowling Armstrong played consistently and finished the first 36-holes at four-over par with a pair of 74s. His 148 total puts him in 16th heading into the final round on Tuesday.

Stoney Crouch finished with a 74-79 on Monday. The freshman is 39th with a 153 total (+9).

Sydney Chung and Mikey Feher, the two stroke leaders in the fall, finished 57th and 82nd. Chung fired a 155 (76-79) and is 11-over par.

Feher shot the two highest rounds of his young collegiate career with an 83-82. Feher is 21-over par with a 165 total.

“Mikey struggled a little bit today,” Brewer said. “The last few weeks he made a couple of technical changes with his swing and is building his confidence. If he can get a few more reps he will be fine.”

Lipscomb is 21 shots off the leaders, Cincinnati and University of Texas at San Antonio. Both schools shot a five-over par, 581.

Only four of the 84 participants finished under par. Jared Howard of Cincinnati leads the field after firing a three-under par 141 (72-69).